Cities are on the front lines of the global water challenge. In a new session of the UNDP SDG Local Solutions Series, titled “Ensuring the accessibility of municipal water,” we will explore how local governments can innovate and improve service performance, address inequality in access, and ensure the financial and environmental sustainability of urban water services in line with SDG 6 and the broader 2030 Agenda.
Date: 8 July 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. NY time
Register here
The session draws on two city case studies that illustrate distinct but complementary approaches to urban water management:
In Windhoek, Namibia, the City has pioneered direct potable water reuse since 1968 through the Goreangab Water Reclamation Plant — the longest-running facility of its kind in the world. Operating in one of the most arid urban environments in Sub-Saharan Africa, Windhoek has combined reclamation, managed aquifer recharge, demand management, and progressive tariff structures to sustain supply and affordability under conditions of chronic water scarcity.
In Bogotá, Colombia, the Public Innovation Lab revamped the city’s water bill for the first time in over twenty years, using behavioral science and citizen-focused design. The new bill includes consumption comparisons, personalized messages, and visual cues. Since November 2024, it has reached over 2.4 million households, and water savings rose by 4.49% from December 2024 to April 2025.
Download the concept note here
SPEAKERS
Natalia Rodríguez Triana
Deputy Director of Public Innovation, City of Bogotá, Colombia
Moses Matyay
Chief Executive Officer, City of Windhoek, Namibia
MODERATOR
Mary Matthews
Global Water Lead